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December 2, 2011

Jingle Rock Cross. An Iowa Thanksgiving Adventure

I went into Jingle Cross without any expectations; I just wanted the trip to be a positive learning experience. My first “traveling” UCI race – I felt like a little kid traveling solo for the first time. But, I wasn’t solo. I had all the experience of travel veteran, Sue Butler, to show we the tricks of the trade and how to roll with the punches. Sue tells it like it is and doesn’t take crap from anybody. I like that, a lot.

Fast Start; I'm back there somewhere.

Starting in the back row is tough; not knowing where I fit into the mix; sitting behind slower girls I should have been in front of, watching the front of the race ride away. The beauty of a three race weekend is that I got three chances.

Friday was a little disappointing, but at least I got to race (our bikes were delayed by a day and we just made it to the venue in time for a quick warm-up and headed to the start line.) I learned a lot Friday. Most importantly I learned I needed to be more aggressive!! Got to BE AGGRESSIVE, GOT TO BE AGGRESIVE.

I needed to be more aggressive at the start and move up quickly, before the single track. Saturday was better, and Sunday better than that.

Top ten finishes on Saturday and Sunday and some UCI point to boot. I finished 9th both days, which is awesome and I am really pleased with how the weekend played out, but I have the fire in my belly to do better. I finished the race counting my mistakes and how I could have moved up a spot or two.

Racing with fast ladies makes you faster…….I want to be faster! I am already starting to scheme how I can travel more next year.

Big thanks to Kevin Blair and Brook Watts who were amazing in the pits all weekend, and to the fabulous folks of My Wife Inc; the most pro, non-pro team out there. Your awesomeness knocked my socks off!